New Orleans, LA.- The Volley Toppers took on Cumberland University and SUNO in day one of the Big Easy Blastoff tournament and came away with two overpowering victories.
Match One
The offensive prowess of the Volley Toppers was once again on full display in their opening match against the Phoenix, as BMCU rolled to a straight-set sweep.
The Toppers tallied an impressive 49 kills in just three sets, with junior standout
Rachel Stegall leading the way with 11. She was closely followed by
Salice Speed with 9 kills and
Valeria Velez with 8, giving BMCU a well-balanced attack from multiple positions.
Reanna Brown set the tone offensively, dishing out 17 assists and adding 3 service aces, while
Peyton Kidd contributed 13 assists of her own to keep the offense clicking.
Defensively,
Kora Wilson anchored the back row with a gritty performance, recording a team-high 25 digs. As a unit, the Toppers finished with 73 digs, showcasing their relentless defensive effort despite not recording a block in the match.
With contributions across the board, the Volley Toppers secured a swift victory to set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
Match Two
The Volley Toppers continued their lethal offensive attack in their matchup against SUNO, posting an impressive team hitting percentage of .305 on their way to a straight-set victory.
Reanna Brown and
Hailey Oliver kept the offense in rhythm from their setter positions, with Brown recording 14 assists and Oliver adding 8.
Their steady distribution allowed
Rachel Stegall to once again lead the charge with 9 kills. She was followed closely by
Valeria Velez with 8 kills and
Marissa Gerleman with 7, showcasing BMCU's balanced firepower at the net.
On the defensive front,
Caleigh Grace Turpin stood tall with a team-high two blocks, while the back row duo of
Kora Wilson and
Abbi Williams combined for 23 digs to keep the Phoenix at bay.
The Toppers also dominated from the service line, firing in 11 aces to maintain full control of the match.
With the win, BMCU caps off a strong opening day in New Orleans. The Toppers will be back in action tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m. on day two of the Big Easy Blastoff.
Find us here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
